On 'Sound Medicine': Lyme disease, why we sleep, and tips for best care in the ER

On 'Sound Medicine': Lyme disease, why we sleep, and tips for best care in the ER

April 23, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS -- The "Sound Medicine" program for April 27 includes segments about Lyme disease in both humans and dogs, how to ease the symptoms of breast cancer, and ways to get the best care in the emergency room.

How can people avoid tick-borne illnesses? In 2013, the CDC reported that 300,000 people were diagnosed with Lyme disease, with only 30,000 cases being reported to the CDC. Paul Mead, M.D., the chief of epidemiology and surveillance for the CDC’s Lyme disease program, discusses the discrepancy in the number of cases and the number reported to the CDC, the lingering symptoms of Lyme disease, and the best ways to avoid tick-borne illnesses.

Do you know dogs can get Lyme disease? As part of the healthy pets series, Liz Murphy, DVM, talks about Lyme disease in dogs. Lyme disease is spread to both humans and dogs by the black-legged tick, or deer tick. Dr. Murphy joins "Sound Medicine" to discuss how dogs contract Lyme disease, what symptoms pet owners should look for, and a vaccine that can prevent Lyme disease in dogs.

Why do we need sleep? Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a hypothesis that explains why humans need sleep. The synaptic homeostasis hypothesis, SHY, predicts that the brain needs time to rest in order to process information absorbed during the day. Chiara Cirelli, M.D., Ph.D., who helped develop the SHY hypothesis, joins "Sound Medicine" to discuss why we sleep, why the brain needs rest, and what the brain does while we’re sleeping .

Can yoga ease the discomfort of breast cancer? A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that the focus on meditation and deep breathing in yoga could help reduce fatigue and inflammation for breast cancer patients. Kathy Miller, M.D., discusses when it’s safe for breast cancer patients to begin exercising and why yoga is the best choice for patients seeking relief. Dr. Miller is the co-leader of the breast cancer program at the IU Simon Cancer Center and an associate professor at the IU School of Medicine.

How can patients improve their visit to the emergency room? Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc., recently published an article on Slate titled, "The 10 Types of ER Patients." In the article, Dr. Wen describes the 10 patient behaviors she commonly sees in the emergency room. Dr. Wen joins “Sound Medicine” to explain how a trip to the emergency room can be improved. Dr. Wen is an emergency physician at George Washington University and author of "When Doctors Don’t Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests."

"Sound Medicine" covers controversial ethics topics, breakthrough research studies and the day-to-day application of recent advancements in medicine. It's also available via podcast and Stitcher Radio for mobile phones and iPads and posts updates on Facebook and Twitter.